Rasika Dugal to visit Pakistan for Manto?

Actor Rasika Dugal will head to Aligarh Muslim University first and then if, she is granted a visa, hopefully to Pakistan to research on her film on Pakistan writer, Sadat Hassan Manto.

Actor Rasika Dugal, who is currently working on a mythological show alongside Dev Dutt Pattnaik, is gearing up for her film Manto. The movie will have actor Nawazzudin Siddiqui playing the titular role of Pakistani writer Sadat Hassan Manto, with Rasika playing the role opposite him.

As a part of research for the movie, Rasika will be heading to the Aligarh Muslim University where Manto had studied and had his tryst with the Indian Progressive Writers Movement. A source reveals, “The actor was sure that she wanted to completely familiarise herself with his work. She was also keen to know more about his personal life and his journey. Some of Mantos’ early writings were when he was studying at the Aligarh Muslim University. It was also around the time he starting associating with The Indian “Progressive Writers Association. Plus, if her permits and visa comes around, she will visit Pakistan too.”

Talking about the same, Rasika says, “I think it will be interesting to follow this journey. Starting at Aligarh then to Bombay and finally to Lahore. I am looking forward to all this.”

The movie which will be directed by Nandita Das is not a biopic and will have partition as its focal point. She had earlier said, “”I first read Manto in English, and then a few years later, I bought the Urdu collection, Dastavez, in Devanagari. I was struck by his simple yet profound narrative and his insightful capturing of people, politics and the times he lived in. He wrote as he saw, as he felt, without dilution, and with a rare sensitivity and empathy for his characters.”